[ampere]

What is the plan on Korando?
Did not hear anything about it.

All we see is an already crowded segment getting more crowded.
Why automakers are not looking at the compact cross-over segment?

[Y@SH]

Both the ssangyong models are now due to come only in 2012. M&M now concentrating on the XUV500.

[dinesha]

Originally Posted by ampere

What is the plan on Korando?
Did not hear anything about it.

All we see is an already crowded segment getting more crowded.
Why automakers are not looking at the compact cross-over segment?

"The Rexton and Korando SUVs will be introduced (in India) by middle of next year (2012)" Price above 20 lakhs
XUV5OO price between 11-20 Lakhs..

Source: Mahindra & Mahindra to foray into premium SUV segment - The Economic Times : Dated 9-Sept-2011

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dinesha

"The Rexton and Korando SUVs will be introduced (in India) by middle of next year (2012)" Price above 20 lakhs
XUV5OO price between 11-20 Lakhs..

Source: Mahindra & Mahindra to foray into premium SUV segment - The Economic Times : Dated 9-Sept-2011

Wow! Why should the Korando be priced above 20L? People would as well buy other brands for that price point.
I was expecting Korando somewhere around 14-16 on-road, since it is a compact X-over.

Not sure how it would sell over 20L!

[Y@SH]

Originally Posted by dinesha

"The Rexton and Korando SUVs will be introduced (in India) by middle of next year (2012)" Price above 20 lakhs
XUV5OO price between 11-20 Lakhs..

Source: Mahindra & Mahindra to foray into premium SUV segment - The Economic Times : Dated 9-Sept-2011

If the Korando would be priced above 20L then what would be the price of the Rexton?
The XUV 500 would be priced between 12 and 15 Lakhs. Followed by Korando at 15.5-18L, followed by the rexton at 19-22 Lacks. By this varied product range M&M/Ssangyong would be trying to grab more market share in the SUV market.

[rockyb]

Same way as Nissan X-trail & Honda CRV sells for over 25+ in Bangalore

Am more curious of the XUV - 500.

Originally Posted by ampere

Wow! Why should the Korando be priced above 20L? People would as well buy other brands for that price point.
I was expecting Korando somewhere around 14-16 on-road, since it is a compact X-over.

Not sure how it would sell over 20L!

[shankar.balan]

Korando is one segment lower than the Rexton

The Rexton may come in and play in the Fortuner, Captiva, Koleos, Santa Fe, X Trail, CRV territory - or perhaps a tad lower.
The Korando will have to be positioned one segment lower than the Rexton which means it will be playing directly against its own cousins the top end Scorp, the XUV 500 and possibly the Duster etc.
Overall the Korando will be a well engineered small SUV/ Crossover - I think this will be a good vehicle for India if priced around 14 on road.
Between the Korando and Duster they will eat up the Safari and Scorpio to a large extent.
Maybe this is why Scorpio is already pushing the sales of its EX version. Once the Korando comes in they might even have to think about discontinuing their VLX or re-pricing it somewhat as its sales will definitely get hit.

Whatever it is it looks like all these manufacturers only want to play about in the 20 lac SUV segment, leaving the 8-15 lac segment to continue to starve or push consumers to increase the purchase budgets.

It is only in this country where such badly confused and highly skewed priorities of the manufacturers dictate that common or garden utility vehicles become "lifestyle" vehicles and remain exclusively in the preserve of the rich poser type consumers OR politicos OR real estate goons.

I guess it is a waste of time effort and breath to go on railing against this. ONly adds to the frustration.

Better to go the "used" car route if one wants a good quality ute, buy it and use it nicely as much as possible, so as to extract every last buck from it!

[dinesha]

These are the words of Senior Vice-President Marketing (automotive division) Vivek Nayer from the Et article.. quite a shocker if true..(they must be very confident about the XUV500).. but it is what it is..

"We do not have a SUV in the price range between Rs 11 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.. Currently we have the Scorpio priced from Rs eight lakh to Rs 11 lakh. Our new XUV-500 targeted at the young audience will be launched by this year. This SUV will be priced between Rs 11 lakh and Rs 20 lakh range."

To a query Nayer said the "XUV-500" would be placed between Rs 11 lakh and Rs 20 lakh while the two SUVs from Ssangyong products in the above Rs 20 lakh price tag.

[shankar.balan]

they need to learn from the Yeti, Koleos and others which are playing in this 20+ segment. Merely positioning the Korando in this range isnt going to cut it. Ssangyong internationally is ranked below Hyundai and Hyundai itself is not the first choice for many.
XUV500 - at least the top end one and the one worth having will definitely hit the 18 lac on road mark in Bangalore. Again, over priced for the target market segment.
If it is indeed targeted at the younger consumer I wonder how many people in their late 20's and early 30's can really pay 18-19 lacs for a lifestyle Crossover vehicle like this. Wonder whether he meant the young at heart consumer who is in his mid/ late thirties or early 40's.

Originally Posted by dinesha

These are the words of Senior Vice-President Marketing (automotive division) Vivek Nayer from the Et article.. quite a shocker if true..(they must be very confident about the XUV500).. but it is what it is..

[ampere]

Looks like M&M would like to keep Ssanyong offerings as premium.
That means their products would be priced higher than the basic M&M products (XUV500 included!).
If that is the case, then Korando does not fits in this scheme correctly.

The only issue would be that both the guys (XUV and Korando) would be powered by the 2/2.2L Diesel and
hence commanding a same pricing (Korando pushing itself higher due to its so called premium branding).

But from a utility point of view, that is not right for Korando positioning, as it is supposed to be a smaller SUV.
Not sure what M&M plans for that section.

Surely an 18-20L OTR for Korando will not sell at all.

[mohandasnikhil]

Does anyone know of the brand the Ssangyong products would be launched under. Would they carry the MnM Badge? I guess MnM has a better brand image than Ssangyong in India. I hope they dont do a "Mahindra Renault" and confuse their audience

[ACM]

Both Korando and Rextron indeed seem to be be aimed at the 20+ mark if one goes by the comment, which would more or less ensure negligible sales.

We do need to keep in mind that inflation itself has taken vehicles +2L compared to 10 years back in the 10-20L segment overall, though launch of newer vehicles.

[mohandasnikhil]

The Autocar Show today announced that the Korando would be in the X1 and Fortuner category, which means it will cost in the 22 to 28lakh range.
And the Rexton (based on the old MB M Class platform) will be a competitor to the X3, Q5 and M Class. So that means a price range starting 35l to 42l.
Even though these cars might be sized simlar to the aforementioned rivals, I really doubt that they could be in the same price range! Any comments?

[shankar.balan]

the Korando cant be compared to the Fortuner etc.
The Rexton is nowhere near the Q5 and X3 and so on in terms of brand value.

Ssangyong Motors does not command this level of Premium in the marketplace outside of India.

Given this kind of price announcement, it must be surmised that the Korando and Rexton would be brought into India as CBU's like the Santa Fe and Koleos etc.

Even if they do come in at this kind of price range, M&M will find that these cars are basically expensive window dressing - not many will sell at that kind of pricing.

Originally Posted by mohandasnikhil

The Autocar Show today announced that the Korando would be in the X1 and Fortuner category, which means it will cost in the 22 to 28lakh range.
And the Rexton (based on the old MB M Class platform) will be a competitor to the X3, Q5 and M Class. So that means a price range starting 35l to 42l.
Even though these cars might be sized simlar to the aforementioned rivals, I really doubt that they could be in the same price range! Any comments?

[shortbread]

Honestly comparing the XUV500 with any car in the SsangYong stable, the XUV is far better value and from initial info and pics not behind in any other aspect.

I cant see how they can justify selling these Korean SUVs at such prices in the same Mahindra showrooms?!!